New clubs join the South Devon League and preparations begin for Charity Shield

The Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League continues to buck the trend in adult Saturday football.

At the annual general meeting held at Buckland Athletic Football Club, three new teams were voted into the growing competition by the current member clubs.

Signal Box Oak Villa, last season’s champions from the green city, have decided to test themselves against stronger opposition and they will play in Division Two.

Also joining them, but in Division Four, are Bere Alston Reserves, who have chosen the South Devon Football League as a pathway into adult football, as opposed to the county youth competition for their under-18 team.

The club’s 1st team play in the Devon Football League, so visiting teams can look forward to excellent facilities.

Galmpton Utd FC have also reformed an adult team after a three-year absence and the former South West Peninsula League outfit have been placed in Division Three. They will blend the majority of their successful under-16 team from last season with a few ex-Galmpton seniors, who may lack the pace of the young players but will be able to offer plenty of experience to compete at this level.

The league will operate with 60 teams, which is an increase of 11 from three years ago and cements its place as the second largest football competition in the county. It is also an England FA accredited league, a credit to the league management committee, who oversee the competition.

In addition to the five divisions, the league will have seven cup competitions, one for each division and one for all reserve teams, plus the Herald Cup, which is the league’s flagship knockout competition.

Read more about the South Devon League

The league will have 2,200 registered players that will be chasing trophies and the first trophy they will be interested in is the traditional season opener, The Torbay Clearance Services Charity Shield.

This season’s invitees are Herald Cup winners Waldon Athletic, who will face Premier Division title holders Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds at Ipplepen Athletic FC on Friday, August 15 with a 6.45pm kick off.

The well supported fixture is a great opportunity for both teams to get their hands on some silverware and boost their hopes for the season ahead.

Most other teams will need to wait for the official first weekend of fixtures on Saturday, September 6.

The league also had their presentation evening at Dainton Park Golf Club, where an array of trophies were handed out by sponsors to league winners Newton Abbot Spurs, Plymouth Phoenix, Mount Gould, Ashburton and Kingskerswell.

Sporting trophies were won by Beesands Rovers, Buckfastleigh Rangers, Paignton Saints, Paignton Villa and Broadhempston United. And there was an award to Alan Blake of Totnes and Dartington for 50 years of service to football in South Devon.